Mahama to open AU Court amid Tanzania tensions

President John Dramani Mahama is expected to travel to Arusha, Tanzania, on Sunday to open the 2026 judicial year of the African Court.

A statement signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, said Mr. Mahama will be the Special Guest of Honour at the ceremony of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights on Monday.

The event will also launch the court’s 20th anniversary under the theme, “20 Years of Service in Protecting Human and Peoples’ Rights in Africa.”

The statement noted that “This will be the first invitation for a sitting President of the Republic of Ghana to address the AU Court.”

The visit comes at a delicate moment for Tanzania, which has faced significant political unrest since its disputed October 29, 2025, general election. President Samia Suluhu Hassan was declared the winner with nearly 98 per cent of the vote, a result widely criticised by opposition groups and some international observers.

Major opposition figures, including Tundu Lissu of Chadema and Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo, were barred from contesting. Protests that followed were met with a forceful security response. While authorities have downplayed casualty figures, Chadema has alleged that hundreds were killed.

The United Nations and other bodies have cited credible reports of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.

More than 240 individuals, among them young demonstrators and opposition actors, were reportedly charged with treason, an offence that carries the death penalty.

At the height of the unrest, a five-day nationwide internet blackout was imposed.

President Hassan has since announced a probe into protest-related deaths and pledged constitutional reforms within her first 100 days in office, though public confidence remains fragile.

The 2025 Independence Day celebrations were cancelled to avert further demonstrations.

Despite the tensions, other developments continue. Tanzanian authorities recently confirmed the arrest of alleged drug trafficker Ahmed Muharram in Zambia. Dar es Salaam is grappling with drought-induced water rationing, while preparations advance for the country to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

During his stay in Arusha, President Mahama will hold bilateral talks with President Hassan before returning to Accra later Monday. In line with Article 60(8) of Ghana’s Constitution, the Vice President will act as President during his absence.